Framing a Work of Art
to Suit 4 Different Decor Styles

The other day I realized I'd never really sung the praises of our online custom frame shop in this blog -- so today's the day. The beauty of our frame shop is it allows you to customize just about any artwork on our site to match your decor. So whether your home decorating style is Contemporary, Casual, Traditional or Global, you can mix and match mats and frames online to find the perfect fit for your home. Case in point, Crimson Poppy I, by Marysia:

Crimson Poppy I
By Marysia

See how great this piece looks with the Contemporary frame I used above? Contemporary decor tends to feature elements like clean, bold lines and stark or bright colors. I thought I'd go for a canvas transfer, rather than a paper print, and give it a sleek, black floater frame. Floater frames are very popular with Contemporary decorators, because they lend artwork a striking, modern feel.

On the other hand, if your decor is more Traditional, you could try a more ornate frame like this:

Crimson Poppy I
By Marysia

Typically, Traditional decor features more formal, antique-inspired accents. I chose this golden frame for its elegant, Old World feel and also because it draws out the rich, warm hues in the artwork. Again, I've decided to go with a canvas transfer, for more of a textured look, and I chose to go "matless." Depending on your preference though, you could play around with some different matting options -- for instance, cream, rose, or some other color from the image.

Another angle you could take here is a Global theme:

Crimson Poppy I
By Marysia

I've found that Global decor tends to feature lots of natural materials (like wicker, wood and silk), so this bamboo frame was an easy choice. The fact that it's black gives it more of an Asian-inspired feel, which is also a popular theme in Global decor.

If you wanted a more Casual look, you could try one of our rustic whitewashed frames, and maybe even pair the artwork up with a similar image by the same artist:

Crimson Poppy I, By Marysia
Crimson Poppy II, By Marysia

Doesn't that have a wonderfully light, summery feel? Perfect for a cottage or a room with a more Casual decor theme.

Of course, there are a myriad of different ways to customize this artwork (or any artwork, for that matter!) to suit your decor style. You could try it on canvas, see how it looks oversized, pair it with mirrors and photography prints for an eclectic look...the possibilities are endless.

And as always, I'd love to see what mat and frame combinations you come up with. Feel free to add a link to your own framing suggestions at the end of this blog! I'd love to hear from you. Until next week...!

Mother's Day is May 11...Don't Forget!

Three Ages of Woman, Mother and Child (detail)
By Gustav Klimt

Don't you just love this piece by Gustav Klimt? It's a personal favorite of mine -- the colors are so rich and the imagery is so tender and powerful. It's 15% off until May 11 as part of our Mother's Day Art Sale. Be sure to stop by if you're still shopping for mom.

They say there's no greater bond than that between a mother and child, and speaking as the lucky mom of a wonderful eight-year-old boy, I'd have to agree. Here's our very own impromptu version of "Mother and Child":

No one cuddles better than my son! Of course, I may be slightly biased. But what can I say? He's bright, sweet, clever, intelligent, funny, generous, adorable, and of course, more than a little mischievous at times. Here's another work of art that reminds me of him:

Worn Out
By Jim Daly

Come to think of it, this artwork would be an excellent gift for my own mother. She runs a no-kill animal shelter, and (obviously!) really loves animals. Plus she dotes on her grandson and would be sure to see him in this slumbering little fella.

Last up -- a stunningly beautiful, one-of-a-kind art masterpiece by a very little known artist:

Hee hee. My son whipped up this little Pokemon homage for me as an early Mother's Day gift. Unfortunately, it's not for sale -- at any price. But if you're still looking for something special for your own mom, don't forget to stop by our Mother's Day Art Sale!

See you next week!

Which Species Are in Danger
and What You Can Do to Help

Bear Hug
By Egan

I just love this polar bear photography print, don't you? Look at how tender and protective the mother bear is towards her sweet little cub. Polar bears are such wonderful creatures -- so playful and yet majestic. It's hard to imagine they may be extinct by the end of this century.

That's right, by the year 2100, if current climate trends continue warming the sea ice, polar bears simply won't exist anymore. It's a sobering fact, and what's worse is that many other species may also follow in their wake. Fortunately, though, there are steps we can take to help turn things around. In honor of Earth Day, today's entry is devoted to saving endangered animals, like the tiger.

Tiger

Known for their beautiful stripes and stealthy hunting skills, tigers walk paw in paw with lions as kings of the jungle. Sadly though, due to human construction and deforestation, tigers now have 40% less habitat available to them -- which threatens their existence. Fortunately though, foundations like the World Wildlife Fund are working hard to protect tigers and many other species. Making a donation is one simple way to contribute, and you can also call them up and ask how else you could help.

Can you imagine a world without whales? These great leviathans of the sea are incredibly peaceful mammals, but they also know how to have a good time. Just look at this guy leaping out of the sea:

Northern Humpback Whale
By Brandon D. Cole

Doesn't he look joyful? Unfortunately, whale hunting, water pollution and collisions with ships have caused the animal population for this lovely mammal to dwindle. Greenpeace and other organizations have done great work for this cause, and you could contact them if you wanted to get involved.

China's roly-poly Giant Panda is another animal on the way to extinction.

Panda Mother and Baby

Believe it or not, it's estimated that as few as 1,600 of these beautiful bears exist in the wild today. There is hope, though. Do a little research on the internet, and you'll find all sorts of Adopt-a-Panda type of programs that help you contribute to the preservation of these species and others.

Staying informed and spreading the word also helps. Last week, my son's school did a series of presentations on endangered species, and it really spurred his interest to help. Now he's a regular expert on camel preservation!

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. In that vein, decorating your home, office or school with images of endangered animals is another way to generate discussion and help foster awareness and appreciation for these beautiful creatures.

So Happy Earth Day to you, and let's do our best to keep our animals alive and well!

The Art of the Perfect Latte

Aroma IV
By Daphne B

Have you heard the latest about Starbuck's Coffee? They recently came out with a new "Pike's Place Blend," an "everyday" brew named after the first Starbuck's store that opened in Seattle's famous Pike's Place market in 1971. I'm a woman who loves her coffee -- and her Starbucks -- so naturally I had to give it a try! It's quite nice and rich, in my opinion.

I really can't start the day without coffee. Nothing wakes me up like the smell of fresh-ground coffee, and nothing inspires me to get out of bed like a tall decaf nonfat latte That's my drink of choice at the local Starbucks, and my son (who is 8 years old) knows how to "call" my order as well as the baristas there.

Batik Coffee I
By Louise Max

In my opinion, the perfect latte is made with a nice, rich espresso and has a generous serving of creamy foam on the top with cinnamon sprinkled in it. Like this one, mmm!

Latte
By Jennifer Garant

And if you hadn't noticed my subtle suggestion, coffee- and latte-themed art can really perk up your decor as well -- especially if you're a cafe connoisseur! And if latte's not your drink, all the artists featured in this blog entry also have art in 3 other beverage selections.

Ok, all this talk of coffee and lattes has me thirsty for a refill. How about you? Meet you at the Starbucks down the street? See you next week!

Find Your Own Pot of Gold: 15% Off All Green Art this Week!

All my life, St. Patrick's Day has inadvertently held strong significance for me. Although I'm not Irish, I attended an elementary school named St. Patrick's, and the teachers there (nuns from Ireland, no less!) taught us traditional Irish dancing, which we performed on March 17th. Then, I went to college in Savannah, Georgia -- a city known for its over-the-top St. Pat's festivities, including turning the river green and throwing a huge parade and party.

This year promises to be a bit more low-key for me, but I'm happy to announce that ArtSelect is holding a St. Patty's Day Art Sale from March 11-17. In between munching your shamrock cookies (or however you celebrate St. Pat's!) be sure to stop by. We're offering 15% off all of our vibrant, green-hued art prints, like this fresh floral piece:

Fiore 3
By Elena Filatov

There's something so inspiring and uplifting about green, isn't there? The color seems to carry with all sorts of connotations of spring, renewal and regeneration. And according to color therapy lore, you can use green in your decor to promote healing, relaxation and revivification. What do you think? Does this little guy revive you?

Maki Frog
By Konrad Wothe

These are just a few of the images that you'll find in our St. Patty's Day Art Sale. As you see, there's a wide range of genres and art mediums, including landscapes, photography and Abstract Art. You'll also find some Art Deco, like this luscious piece by Tamara de Lempicka.

Jeune Fille en Vert
By Tamara de Lempicka

Well, like I said, I'm not Irish, but somehow it seems fitting to end today's post with a traditional Irish Blessing. Have a great week!

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

This week, an ArtTherapy San Francisco article posed one of the age-old home decorating dilemmas to readers: should you hang art in your bathroom?

Read the ApartmentTherapy article...

It's a long-standing debate, and there are certainly pros and cons. On the one hand, you want every room in your home to look beautiful and reflect your signature style -- but on the other hand, art tends to warp in bathrooms due to temperature fluctuations and steam from the shower. Nonetheless, according to the ArtTherapy survey, most home decorators are going for it anyway!

Reading over the poll results, the general consensus was that it was ok to display art in the bathroom so long as you don't overly invest in it. Framed snapshots were popular, as were smaller-sized art prints, art found on sale, and non-warping art items like mirrors and sculpture.

One thing that struck me was how many readers said they used the bathroom as a place to hang art that was more kitschy, fun or risque than art they'd display elsewhere in the home. Vintage art posters, nudes, and other kinds of cheeky or intimate images came up as examples. When you think about it, it makes sense. After all, for a lot of women, the bathroom is a bit of a boudoir -- a place to put on make up, light candles and take long baths. A beautiful nude, for instance, is evocative of the sensual nature of the boudoir.

Dixie Ray
By Edward Steichen

Bert's Bath
By James Flad

Pears Soap

What about you? What do you hang in your loo? Send me your comments, and see you next week!